The British government's current educational policy for England draws on E.D. Hirsch's writings on 'cultural literacy'. This paper aims to uncover the roots of Hirsch's influential views through a genealogical critique. Hirsch admired the Scottish Enlightenment educator Hugh Blair as a model architect of a hegemonic culture to unite disparate…

A national survey of senior secondary English curriculum content has confirmed that contemporary literature predominates among set texts, being seen as an "essential" category for study because of its "relevance" in helping students "understand the world in which they live." Perhaps uncontentious -- depending on the…

Offers suggestions for seeking out neglected writers from all literary periods and advocates teaching the works of these writers along with the works of accepted great writers. (MKM)

Examines the stories of four female literary characters from modern literature, all of whom experienced a forced departure from home. The cross-cultural experiences of these indomitable women provide hope and illustrate that adverse conditions can demonstrate triumph of the human spirit. Success or failure is linked with finding home again. (MMU)

Suggests that during the 80s attempts should be made to include the works of women writers in general literature anthologies and as topics of general literature classes. (MKM)

Any teacher can teach black literature if he is willing to give it the same respect he gives white writing. (JH)

Reform in English studies is compromised by our tendency to talk like dilettantes, but behave like philologists. (JH)

To indicate what high school students have actually studied during the previous 10 years of changing secondary school curricula, this document reports the findings of a questionnaire survey conducted among 2,247 students who took the 1965-66 College Entrance Examination Board's English Composition Test. The report is divided into three…

The purpose of this study was to identify the main elements of writing that have been identified by selected professional writers and, on the basis of this record, to make recommendations about composition instruction in the public schools. The works of four American novelists and randomly selected book reviews from "Saturday Review" were examined…

Discusses the results of two national studies of high school literature programs that examined the relationship between school library media programs and successful literature programs. Topics addressed include collection size; accessibility, including networks; title availability, including those by women and minority authors; and teachers' uses…